Sunday 8 February 2015

Weekends, Children, & Other Things

Why is as soon as the weekend hits the kids are demanding attention. 14 & 25 they're all the same. This weekend I had so much to do while Steve's away, but instead I've been spending time with Emily and Ethan... With Emily it was shopping and talking music and books... with Ethan it was watching movies (Batman moviesthe ones with Christian Bale). And that was just Saturday—I still have Sunday to go.

Right now I'm relaxing and watching the country music channel on Foxtel. If anything you can listen to some great story ideas... every now and again a sentence jumps out at me and screams "Write me down before you dumb arse forgets."—seems my subconscious knows me well.

On a writing note--I think we are getting close to two new cover reveals. for Experimentals 2: Running Into Zero Tolerance [Lex Valentine MLR]—&The Diamond Rose 1: Gateways To Kalethia [Tracey Soxie Weston FP].

Dang it, the kids are up so my peace and quiet has just been shot to hell... I knew it was too good to last—Okay, I'm outa here—I'll talk to you all again tomorrow when I have time to myself again.

Saturday 7 February 2015

Sentinels Of Varnuse 2: Wind Walkers [6]

#6
Dominic was given the position as the rear guard as they marched. The forest they’d been making their way through was steadily becoming thicker and harder to navigate. Everyone was covered in scratches from their surroundings. The denseness was becoming suffocating, and worse yet, was the fact he could feel they were no longer alone. Somewhere along the lines they had picked up a tail. He was still deciding whether or not to alert the others when Arron stopped and slowly turned in a circle, scanning their surroundings ‘down’ was the only warning given.

Dropping to the ground Dominic covered Crimson’s body with his own as a shower of arrows passed over them. Leaves and bark rained down upon them as they lay there waiting to see what was going to happen next.

“I told you this jungle was trying to kill us—now do you believe me?” Crimson growled, “If we had just taken the route I had said and gone the right way; none of this would be happening. But did anyone listen to me? Noooo. The almighty Vayne and Arron knew better. HA! What a crock of shit.”

Grunting in pain Dominic didn’t even need to look to know that he had an arrow imbedded in his leg. The back of his right thigh to be precise. He could feel the blood beginning to soak into his trousers as it ran down his inner thigh.

“Somebody make them stop.” Dominic heard Nico yelp in pain.

“Nico?” Crimson reached out a hand in his brother’s direction.

“I think I’m dead, Crim.” Nico whined and Dominic couldn’t stop the chuckle from escaping.

Crimson began squirming underneath him, trying to get to his brother. “Nico?”

“Stay still,” Dominic hissed, “remember whoever’s shooting at us is still out there. Don’t make yourself a more obvious target.”

Again his mate wriggled around beneath him. “Nico’s hurt, he needs me.”

“How hurt are you?” Dominic asked Nico. His pain intensified as the constant movement of Crimson trying to free himself made the arrows embedded in his leg bit deep. “Crim, you need to stay still, I’ve been hit.”

They moment the words left his lips Dominic felt as his mate stilled beneath him. His breath came out in pants as he waited for the pain to subside. He willed his body to relax as he listened to his friends.

“I have something in my back.” Nico said softly, by the sound of the tremble in his voice Dominic thought it was serious.

“I have him,” Arron said quietly. “He has been hit just below his right shoulder blade. It isn’t too deep but I have no clue about the inner workings of a hawk shifter. Vayne on the other hand,” Arron seemed to spit the name out in annoyance. Has somehow managed to catch his head on a protruding root and has knocked himself out.”

Dominic grimaced in pain, “I have two arrows in my right thigh. Both are buried deep—one’s gone all the way through and is coming through the front of my thigh.”

“I’m okay,” Crimson whispered from below him.

Pushing himself up on his arms Dominic made enough room for Crimson to slide himself from beneath him. It crossed his mind that whoever had attacked them was still out there watching. Were they getting a kick out of seeing three of them wounded?

“Dom, there not arrows.” Crimson whispered. “They look more like long darts.”

What the fuck! “Pull them out, I need you to pull them out, baby.”

Crimson’s hands froze on his thigh. “What if I cause you more damage? They have little barbs that I think will catch into you if I try and yank them out.”

“Fuck!” gritting his teeth he said the one thing he really didn’t want to happen. “Crim, you will have to push them through my thigh, and then pull them out from the front.”

**~*~**

Arron’s hand touched down on Crimson’s shoulder, he’d been arguing with himself as to whether he would hurt Dominic more. He wasn’t sure what to do. “I’ll do it. You go and sit beside Nico. Just close your eyes and I’ll tell you when you can open them.”

“Okay,” Crimson felt relieved that he wouldn’t be the one to cause Dominic pain. He was much better at helping his mate heal.

Reaching out and running his fingers through his brother’s hair he spoke. “Hey Nico, I’m here now.”

His heart just about stopped as his brother’s pain filled eyes turned in his direction until their gazes locked.

“Don’t let them push this thing through me. I need you to get them to cut it out of me.”

“Shh Nico, don’t you worry about it yours is different to Dom’s.”

Nico’s eyes widened. “How?”

Crimson blinked furiously to stop his eyes from burning. “Well, Dom’s goes deep into his thigh and yours runs more under the surface of the skin.” He flinched as Dominic cried out in pain.

“One down and one to go,” Arron said matter of factly.

Crimson couldn’t see because he had purposely kept his back to his mate. Did that make him a coward—probably? A groan to his right told him Vayne was starting to wake up.

“What happened?” Vayne asked as he sat up. “What the hell’s going on?”

Crimson didn’t have time to answer as the sounds of a fight ensued in the jungle surrounding them. There were curses and cries of pain as metal clashed against metal. Gripping his brother’s hand tightly he tried to tune it all out he didn’t want to know if there was anything out there that was worse than the people who had already attacked them.

He whispered words of nonsense to Nico as Vayne, Arron and Dominic all stilled, listening to the raging battle. Then as suddenly as it had begun—it was over—until only silence remained.

What the hell was happening? What more could be out there and possibly wanting to hurt them? Or was the new attacker friendly? So many questions and no one showing themselves to give the answers needed.

Tuesday 3 February 2015

Birthday's Over ~So It's Time To Get Stuck Back Into Writing...


I have given myself 15 days to getting finished  TLOM 3: You Make Me Die In Pieces. I've also been writing down a lot of plot points for the upcoming books in this series. It's been fun in a weird sort of way seeing as I'm not really a plotter at all. I must admit that It's been good getting a feel in my head for upcoming characters and where they'll eventually fit into the story line.

Then the rest of the months is dedicated to finishing off TCC 2: Beautiful Goodbyes. I have started and scrapped this book so many times that I'm getting frustrated with myself... so half way through February... I will do no other writing (except edits as needed) Until the novel is completed. I know what I want to say but getting it down onto paper is a little trickier than I thought it would be. This storyline is taking me on a path where even though I know what's to come  has to happen—I'm just not happy about writing the inevitable. I know once I get past the damn road block in the story it will flow a lot smoother—so I promise to pull on my big girl panties and just do what needs to be done, and then hope you don't hate me for it at a later date—Like when it's released and you read it.

So this is my February eaten up—writing wise... I'll still continue on with the plotting. I'm still waiting for cover art on The Diamond Rose 1: Gateway to Kalethia [Fireborn Publishing]... and Experimentals 2: Running into Zero Tolerance [MLRPress]. I'll blog them as soon as they come in. 

Monday 2 February 2015

Beautiful According To Me....Why?

Because it's my birthday and I want to...That's why.





& these two guys 
because Em wants her faves on as well...


Friday 30 January 2015

Things I Need To Do In February ~ Not Related To Writing

Seriously, what the hell was I thinking…Here is the list of what I need to get done:

1… Organise for the hubs to go to New Zealand as he has some business meeting over there.
2… Organise eye appointments for my Mum as she needs a touch more laser done on her eye.
3… Help finish getting Emily ready for University—I think she is starting to freak out a little.
4… Draw a picture of the Ninja Turtles for my niece’s birthday—I should point out that my nice is thirty-ish—originally I drew a picture for her when she was a kid and now I have to update it so I will be drawing two… a copy of the original pic and one of the turtles as they appear in the last movie.
5… Draw 2 pictures for Emily (1) a collage of her favourite singers, & (2) a collage of her favourite WWE wrestlers—though in all honesty I can take as long as I want with Emily’s 2 drawings.

Thursday 29 January 2015

Sentinels Of Varnuse 2: Wind Walkers [5]

#5.
After days of walking through the forest listening to his brother’s constant babbling complaints Crimson had had enough. “How hard do you think it will be if once we get to the next village if I publicly sell you off to the first wiling person that wants you?” He growled as he rounded on Nico. “Do you ever shut up?”

“It’s not my fault if these people are be leading us to our deaths,” Nico pouted a hurt look filled his eyes and Crimson knew it was because he’d never really ever yelled at Nico before.

Sighing Crimson took a deep breath. “They’re not trying to get us killed, Vayne and Arron are searching for their mate. Dominic was ordered to follow and help. He’s my mate, so where he goes, I’ll go.” Touching his brother’s arm he continued. “You can go back home if you want, I won’t force you to come with us. Dad’s the one who believes we’ll find your destiny along our travels.”

Nico did a whole body shiver before answering. “I can’t go by myself. Dad told you that I had to follow you.” He pointed to where Vayne, Arron and Dominic had stopped and were watching them. “If they were really interested in finding their Simian, then you think they would at least be heading in the right direction. Instead they’re just wandering around and getting us all lost, or worse, eaten by the Grimmask people. Can’t we just tell them which direction to go?”

“We’re going the right way.” Arron said menacingly as he strode towards them. “How is it you two always think you know everything? What makes you both so sure we’re headed in the wrong direction?”

Crimson stepped between his brother and the angered warrior. He felt Nico’s hands trembling as he held Crimson’s waist. Right now he didn’t know whether the trembling was caused by fright or anger. Knowing Nico the latter would be the right guess. His suspicion was confirmed when his brother stepped around him and stood toe to toe with Arron. Their size difference was almost laughable.

“I know all this because I’m not an idiot. Any fool knows where Tondran is taking Simian—if he believes Simian is the final great one Tondran wouldn’t have headed in this direction.” He gestured wildly in the direction they had been heading.

“If you are so smart then what direction would he have taken?”

Everyone watched and Crimson realised it was his turn to perform. He closed his eyes and turned in a circle, his arm held out in front of him. “Tondran went there. He’ll be taking the great one to monument of Mount Varnuse.”

Crimsons eyes flew open as Vayne snorted.

“Little one, Mount Varnuse is this way.” He pointed back in the direction they had originally been moving.

“Yes, Mount Varnuse is that way, but the monument isn’t actually at the base of the mountain. It was moved eons ago to Scarsian. It lies beneath the ruins of the original castle of our first kings.

What are you talking about, love? The castle of our kings is in the High City of Panthea—where King Quinlan now lives.” Dominic said as he stepped up beside Arron.

Crimson glared and slammed his hands down onto his hips in frustration. “I swear to the great ones that you people are as dumb as rocks. Did any of you even open the books you had in the years of learning? Everything I have been telling you is written down. It’s part of our histories.”

When it looked like no one—except for maybe Nico—knew what the hell he was talking about he started again slowly. Trying not to let his frustration get the better of him.

“In the age of the great ones; at the beginning of all known time, our king—Scarsian Varnuse Degart I, built his castle, it was near the small village that was of course named after the king himself. So if Tondran really knows just who he has in his hands he’ll be heading for the alter of Scarsian.”

When Arron turned towards Nico and spoke it made crimson see red. “Is he always like this? Does he believe the crap that’s coming out of his mouth?”

Crimson snapped slamming both palms into the centre of Arron’s chest, not that it even caused him to stumble. “Now you listen to me you big bone-head,” he fumed, “I along with my brother may complain a lot about walking through this damn forest. But do not—and I mean don’t ever—tell me I don’t know what I’m talking about when it comes into our histories. It’s something that’s been drummed into my head since I was a nestling. I know all of this because our grandmother believed in remembering where we all came from. Our ancestors, and our histories are important.”

Nico finally spoke. “Crim is right, Grandmother taught us everything. What he isn’t telling you is that Grandmother made Crim in particular learn everything to memory. She believed he was destined to be what our people would have once called The Queran—the mate of the first bird shifter’s descendant.”

“The who?” Arron sneered. Ï thought he was mated to Dominic. Are you telling me Dominic is a shifter?”

“No I’m not saying that at all. If Simian is a great one and he has two mates then is it not possible that Crim and Dominic also have another mate out there? Somewhere out there is the one person who’s a direct descended from Jaradeen Aarondyte. It’s said this descendent is the only one of all bird shifters who can take the form we were first gifted with. He’s the only one among us who can take the form of a crow.” Nico answered.

Crimson snorted. “It’s never going to happen because as much as I believe in the histories, I think that our bloodlines are too polluted for there to truly be a pure descendent. I honestly don’t need anyone other than Dominic.”

“What makes you so sure? Not that I’m saying I want to share you either.” Dominic asked.

Crimson blushed, “I believe if there was a true descendent still living, then I would feel them here.” He placed his hand over his aching heart. “If he’s our mate then you would feel it to.”


Thinking about the mate he would never have if his grandmother was right, hurt like a bitch. It was honestly better to focus on what he did have and not wish for more.